NATO

saw "some signs" that Russia had asked China to help it with lethal weapons in the war against Ukraine

This

by the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg.

He noted that so far NATO has not seen any signs that China is supplying Russia with lethal weapons, but there are signs that there was such a request from Russia and Beijing is currently considering this request.

"China should not provide lethal aid to Russia. This would mean supporting an illegal war," he warned.

In addition, Stoltenberg noted that Xi Jinping's three-day state visit testifies to the expansion of relations between Beijing and Moscow.

"We see how China and Russia are getting closer in the military sphere - joint exercises, joint patrols, naval and air patrols - in the economic sphere, as well as in the political and diplomatic sphere. Therefore, the meeting in Moscow is part of a model in which China and Russia are working ever closer and building an ever stronger partnership," Stoltenberg said.

In addition, the NATO Secretary General said that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin made a big mistake when he launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"He expected that Kyiv would fall in a few days, and all of Ukraine in a few weeks. But he underestimated the steely resistance of the Ukrainian people. He thought he could break the unity of NATO. But NATO members are strong and united and provide unprecedented support to Ukraine," — he said.

Stoltenberg reminded that Sweden and Finland, after the Russian attack, decided to apply for NATO membership, which would double the border between the bloc and the Russian Federation.

"Putin's invasion last year was a shock, but not a surprise. It was the culmination of a pattern of aggressive actions," he said.

The NATO Secretary General said that after the invasion and annexation of Crimea, the Alliance strengthened its capabilities on the eastern borders and deployed defenses when Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine.

"Within a few hours, we activated our defense plans. From the Baltic to the Black Sea," Stoltenberg said.

In addition, NATO members provided significant assistance to Ukraine to protect the country from Russian aggressors and return captured territories.

The NATO Secretary General also said that the bloc has strengthened the protection of critical national infrastructure, including submarine cables and pipelines.

"We agreed on a new Strategic Concept, the first in decades. To guide our Alliance in an era of strategic competition. It identifies Russia as the greatest threat to our security. Along with the constant threat of terrorism," he said.

Stoltenberg added that the coming years will not be easy, so all NATO countries must be ready for this challenge.

We will remind you that earlier the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Jens Stoltenberg, who 

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In addition, we previously reported that the report on global threats to the national security of the United States indicates that 

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Read also:

• The war will smolder in the heart of Europe: Zelensky warned Putin's supporters about the consequences of "freezing the conflict" 

• When asked about the supply of weapons to Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "the USA is to blame" for everything

• "Putin is a polite person in these conversations": Scholz on dialogues with the dictator

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